Center for Childhood Obesity Research

Center for Childhood Obesity Research

Teaching parents bedtime techniques to encourage healthy sleep habits in their infants may help prevent obesity, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Strong links exist between inadequate sleep and childhood obesity.

Leann Birch, distinguished professor of human development and family studies and director of the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State, is retiring effective Dec. 31 after 21 years at Penn State.

Many parents have a difficult time persuading their preschool-aged children to try vegetables, let alone eat them regularly. Food and nutrition researchers have found that by offering a dip flavored with spices, children were more likely to try vegetables -- including those they had previously rejected.

Children who overreact to stressors may be at risk of becoming overweight or obese, according to researchers at Penn State and Johns Hopkins University.

"Our results suggest that some children who are at risk of becoming obese can be identified by their biological response to a stressor," said Lori Francis, associate professor of biobehavioral health. "Ultimately, the goal is to help children manage stress in ways that promote health and reduce the risks associated with an over- or under-reactive stress response."

Experts say overweight children face a high risk of becoming overweight adults. And with the many health complications that are associated with obesity, the challenge is to get kids to eat right and exercise. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes commitment and willpower, no matter how old you are, and Penn State President Graham Spanier looks into ways to pass that message along to children on the upcoming edition of "To The Best Of My Knowledge." The live call-in program airs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, on WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM. It also airs on the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN).

A wedge of rich, dark chocolate cake iced in thick, sweet ganache beckons. Each bite melts onto the tongue, delivering a delightful rush and a feeling that all is well. Soon after the plate is empty, the mind wonders when the next piece may come along, inviting the question: Is sugar habit-forming?